COCHIN BRIDGE
You may think Cochin bridge in Eranamkulam district..you are wrong .It is situated 100 km north of Kochi and provided connectivity to the princely state of Cochin and erstwhile British rail head of Shoranur across Bharathappuzha.It is situated in between Cheruthuruthy and shoranur.Many noble persons and visionaries travelled across the bridge..Swami Vivekananda used this bridge to enter Cochin after getting down at Shoranur.
COCHIN BRIDGE
The bridge was built by Rama Varma Thampuran, who ruled Cochin from 1895 to 1914. The King, who was a progressive ruler, wanted to extend the railway line that came up to Shoranur all the way to Cochin. Shoranur was a key point on the rail map as two significant rail routes met there. We call it Shoranur junction.Under the King’s initiative was built the Ernakulam-Shoranur railway line, on which the first train ran in June 1902. Railway historian Devan Varma says that the King sold some of the royal family’s prized possessions, including the nettipattam(caparisons) of their elephants, to fund the railway project.Under the King’s initiative was built the Eranakulam-Shoranur railway line, on which
, the ‘Cochin bridge,’ built with the technical aid of the British, was part of the original Eranakulam-Shoranur railway line.. The first train ran in June 1902 along the tracks.
Cochin bridge, was first only a rail bridge. The railway bridge that we see now was built later.
According to PWD sources, the bridge was of 322.5 m length and had got 15 spans. Each span had a length of 21.5 m and a width of 5.2 m. She said the bridge was estimated to be of 87 years of age but there was no record available with the PWD about the exact date on which it was constructed.
The bridge was made of steel and was tarred, she said. The seventh span collapsed, and fell into Bharathapuzha along with the middle portion of the bridge, on Wednesday, in November 2011.
COCHIN BRIDGE
The bridge across the Bharathapuzha connecting Shoranur and Cheruthuruthy is a reminder of the erstwhile Kingdom of Cochin, which extended far outside the city of Kochi into the present Thrissur district and other places. The ‘Cochin bridge,’ believed to be 87 years old,( some believe it is 110 years old.) was the first bridge across the Bharathapuzha. The river marked the boundary between the Kingdom of Cochin and Malabar at some places. The ‘Cochin bridge’ broke the divide and brought Cochin closer to the north.
collapsed bridg
A new bridge for road transportation was inaugurated on January 25, 2003 a few meters away from the Cochin bridge.Both ends of the bridge were blocked with small walls and only pedestrians used it, mainly for sightseeing it was a favourite place of nature lovers.. More bridges have come up across the Bharathapuzha, though the river itself has lost its earlier vitality and glory.
The ‘Cochin bridge’ is today a sorry sight after a portion of it collapsed into the river bed in November 2011.
. The seventh span collapsed, and fell into Bharathapuzha along with the middle portion of the bridge, on Wednesday.after a new bridge was inaugurated on January 25, 2003 afew meters away.
There was no casualty as the bridge was closed for traffic after a new bridge was inaugurated .
new rail way bridge
cochin bridge
ThePWD has initiated the process of dismantling and selling the bridge.Major portion of the bridge was collapsed four years ago. After that the bridge almost remained abandoned with the debris scattered over the river bed.It has been decided to demolish the bridge, ahistorical structure; considering the risk it posed to the people who continue to walk on the bridge.